How to make log hives for healthier bees (Video)

While there's are a number of alternative beehive designs, most of us are familiar with the stereotypical modern beehive that resembles something like a box with frames inside. Some beekeepers argue that these modern structures are imposed upon bees, maximizing honey production but potentially comprising their natural nest-building inclinations and very probably their health.

We recently featured the Sun Hive, one of these innovative, bee-centric hive designs. From Gaia Bees comes the log hive, another do-it-yourself hive that is made out of a hollowed log. See how it's made:

The wood used here is green pine wood. A router is used to trace the circumference. A chainsaw is used to hollow out the interior in a grid-like fashion (see safety warning below). The pieces are chiselled out with a long tool. Access doors are made out of the same wood and placed at both ends. The hive is inoculated with propolis to attract a swarm of bees to take up residence, and placed in a tree.

Gaia Bees/Video screen capture

Gaia Bees/Video screen capture

Gaia Bees/Video screen capture

Gaia Bees/Video screen capture

Gaia Bees/Video screen capture

Gaia Bees/Video screen capture

Permaculture Magazine explains: "In nature, bees prefer to establish their hives safely off the ground in trees." Makes sense; here's what Gaia Bees has to say about the log hive:

Log hives provide a natural nest environment and allow bees to grow their one-body [hive] according to their instincts and inner wisdom. Frameless nest environments support health and emotional well being.

A caveat: as the video notes, it doesn't show the basics of using a chainsaw, so great care must be taken. Commenter Zerkbern points out, there is more than one way to hollow out a log:

Sticking a chain saw in tip first is a good way have it buck right up in your face and if you are gonna do it (and you shouldn't) you better be darn careful and have a full face shield and proper garments on. A safer method would be to auger out a few holes to make one large hole into which the chainsaw blade would fit.

Gaia Bees/Video screen capture

Gaia Bees/Video screen capture

Gaia Bees/Video screen capture

Like comparing life in an intentional community versus the gridlock of a gritty city, the log hive is an intriguing design that thinks outside the box, and could provide bees with a more suitable habitat that caters to their natural tendencies, rather than working against them. For more information, visit Gaia Bees and Permaculture Magazine.